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416 and 905: We're more alike than we think

There are more similarities than differences among 416 and 905 residents, including how well we know our neighbours, a new Toronto Star-Angus Reid poll finds.

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By Vanessa LuStaff Reporter

Sun., April 18, 2010

There are more similarities than differences among 416 and 905 residents, including how well we know our neighbours, a new Toronto Star-Angus Reid poll finds.

"The assumption that people in the city isolate themselves from their neighbours, don't come out of their backyards, I think that's a thing of the past," said Angus Reid senior vice-president Jodi Shanoff.

The survey of 1,345 residents across Greater Toronto, conducted online from April 8 to 12, asked respondents how safe they felt in their neighbourhoods and how well they know their neighbours.

The findings were essentially the same. When asked how well respondents know people on their street or in their building, 59 per cent of Toronto residents said they know a few people, 10 per cent don't know anyone and 27 per cent know many.

Among Mississauga's respondents, 56 per cent said they know a few people, while 11 per cent don't know anyone at all and 27 per cent know many. Similarly, in Vaughan, 62 per cent say they know a few people, 9 per cent don't know anyone and 24 per cent know many. In the rest of the 905, the findings were similar, with 59 per cent saying they know a few people, 9 per cent don't know anyone at all and 28 per cent know many.

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People met most often on their street or outside the homes, followed by walks in the area, and in each other's homes.

The only noticeable difference was that 34 per cent of Toronto residents were likely to meet neighbours in local stores and restaurants, compared with 30 per cent in Mississauga, 25 per cent in Vaughan and 26 per cent in the rest of the 905 area.

"I would guess in Mississauga and Vaughan that the stores and restaurants are not in such close proximity as they are on my street just off the Danforth," said Shanoff.

On the question of adequate green space in their neighbourhoods, the response was consistent across all municipalities, with 83 per cent saying they were satisfied. "There doesn't appear to be a perception that Toronto residents lack for green space or don't feel they have somewhere to take their family," she added.

When asked whether it's hard to walk around their neighbourhood because it's not pedestrian-friendly, more than eight in 10 respondents disagreed with that statement – with 416 area code residents at 85 per cent, followed by Mississauga residents at 83 per cent and Vaughan and other 905 residents at 78 per cent.

On the question of crime, nearly three-quarters of respondents reported feeling about the same about their safety compared with two years ago, with 8 per cent saying they feel safer and 19 per cent feeling less safe.

And when asked how safe or unsafe they feel in their neighbourhood, 90 per cent say they feel safe.

This matches the finding that crime is not a top issue for voters this year, coming in at 12 per cent, far behind public transportation at 23 per cent; municipal funding, services and powers at 15 per cent; and leadership at 13 per cent.

Shanoff cautioned that often when people are surveyed, where they live is a reflection on them, so they are less likely to put their home in a negative light.

Nearly half of respondents said they have occasionally changed their behaviour or done something differently as a result of concern over personal safety. Not surprisingly, women are more likely than men to alter their behaviour.

When asked whether the respondent or a family member has ever been a victim of crime including vandalism, theft or assault, 58 per cent said yes – with similar numbers in both the 416 and 905 areas.

"It does suggest there are some reservations about personal safety, but this data doesn't suggest that this is a city living and dealing with crime," Shanoff said. "It's not top of mind. It's not in the news."

The only difference between the 416 and 905 regions on crime was Toronto residents felt slightly more unsafe in their neighbourhood than their counterparts in the 905.

Overall, the top issues and concerns were similar between 416 and 905 voters, Shanoff said. "It isn't the divide we might have expected."

The margin of error is plus or minus 2.7 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

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